Thursday, August 26, 2010

Summer is winding down but maybe the best time of the year for mountain biking and racing. Lots of events going on and great riding with temps starting to cool down, no bugs and sweet trails.

Matt Engen competed in the Leadville 100 earlier this month. Read his race recap in the skinnyski report. Team riders Matt and Steve Wenzel along with Jake Richards joined Matt in Colorado for a week of sweet riding in the high country.Last weekend team members hit the race at Lester Park in Duluth for race #9 in the MNMBS.Jens Richards above in Kids Comp.Jack Richards in Kids Comp.Wyatt Horner in Kids Comp.Devon Horner in Kids Comp.Eric Oftedahl in the front in the Elite race. Eric flatted on the day but still rode strong recording the finish.Sam Oftedahl finishing up 2nd on the day in Elite. Sam was leading the race at times and had a good battle with Erik Tonkin from Portland who is a top Pro in the country. Tonkin raced at Maplelag during the UCI race in May 2007.Matt Horner in Comp posting a solid 8th place overall.Jeremy Dirk in Comp. Jeremy has been hitting the entire race series this year in Minnesota. Excellent!Eric LeBowe cashing in on his exclusive training. Nicely done!

Jake Richards posting his best ever finish in the Elite class with a fifth place finish overall.

A busy weekend on tap with riders spread out all over the Midwest than the home race at Maplelag with the Laddies Loppet stage race weekend. We have to do a team picture on Sunday so tentatively plan on meeting before the Sport race for a group shot.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Not only has the weather been hot the month of August, so has the racing. Team members have been blazin' it up the past two weekends, hitting Birch Bump at Buck Hill and the big Border Battle at White Tail Corporate park in River Falls, WI last weekend. Congratulations to the Elite class in taking top honors at Buck Hill. A good battle going on with Peace Coffee, title sponsor of the Minnesota Series, for the overall. Currently the team sits sixth overall in the omnium and looking forward to a strong finish to the season.

Start of the Elite race at Buck Hill as Sam Oftedahl and Eric Thompson keep the front of the field in check.

Jeremy Dirk in the front in Comp at Buck Hill. Jeremy pinned a top 10 finish at the Border Battle this past weekend. Nicely done!!Eric Thompson running second at Buck Hill who was out in front for a while en route to a third place finish. Eric nailed a top 10 at the Border Battle, just a minute and a half from the top five in a stacked field.Sam Oftedahl hanging on to Eric Thompson's wheel before passing him at the end for second. Sam was 11th at the Border Battle.

Eric Oftedahl having a great result with a sixth place finish at Buck Hill. Eric O was running good at the Border but ripped a sidewall and had to drop.Elite female rider Corey Coogan taking the final singletrack turn and a fourth place finish overall at Buck. Corey was 9th at the Border Battle.Jake Richards moving up in the Elite men. Jake was running top 10 before flatting on the last lap and running the rest of the lap to finish 25th.Eric Lebow rolling to a 31st place finish in the Elite class.

Denny Barry rolling nicely in the Sport race.

Casey Hildenbrandt recorded a 11th place finish in the JR Open race at Border Battle.